It’s October, meaning it is Halloween, meaning it’s time to read spooky books! I thought I’d finally read one that I’ve somehow never read before—Coraline.

I’ve read a few books by Gaiman now, and this is definitely one of the best ones I’ve read so far! Coraline is a clever protagonist, and you really feel her fear and determination, cheering her on throughout the story. This book makes her sympathetic and relatable for anyone, even adults, while also clearly showing her to be a child. She’s young, and that is not a weakness, and her child’s imagination and spirit are real assets to her. This book really celebrates being a kid, and how much people can underestimate children simply due to their age.

The other characters are good too, but of course I’m mainly going to talk about the other mother, who is the most important character other than Coraline. She is extremely unsettling, and the escalation of her attempts to get Coraline to stay is perfectly paced, thrilling, and pretty scary. It’s a strange relationship she and Coraline have, by turns kind and gentle and then harsh and frightening. I loved seeing Coraline push past her fear and stand up to her.

In the end, I can see why this is basically a modern classic. It’s creepy, exciting, and fast-paced. The characters are vivid and have fascinating interactions. Some plot elements, especially during the last act of the story, probably would be intense for some younger or sensitive readers, but if you have a kid who loves scary stories (or are a kid at heart), this is definitely a great read!